BACOLOD City – The Diocese of Bacolod has set up a memorial corner at the San Sebastian Cathedral to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Pope Francis.
Anyone can offer prayers and flowers and light candles for the Holy Father in the said area.
The Diocese said this serves not only as a place of mourning but also a space for reflection and thanksgiving for the pontiff’s enduring witness to faith, humility, and service.
Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson paid tribute to the late Pope.
“On behalf of the people of Negros Occidental, I join the entire nation and the rest of the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In his lifetime, Pope Francis was the embodiment of humility, compassion, and faith. His papacy was marked by an unwavering commitment to peace, unity, and inclusion-especially for those in need and the marginalized,” he said.
The governor added: “Most of all, he led us closer to Jesus through his example of servant leadership. His passing is a profound loss, but his legacy will endure in the lives he touched and in the love and hope he inspired in millions across the globe.”
For his part, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said: “We offer our prayers for the eternal repose of Pope Francis’ soul, and we give thanks for his life of service, wisdom, and moral courage.”/PN
